Joseph "Jo" Siffert (; 7 July 1936 – 24 October 1971) was a Swiss racing driver, who competed in Formula One from to . Siffert won two Formula One Grands Prix across 10 seasons.
Affectionately known as "Seppi" to his family and friends, Siffert was born in Fribourg, the son of a dairy owner. He initially made his name in racing on two wheels, winning the Swiss 350 cc motorcycle championship in 1959, before switching to four wheels with a Formula Junior Stanguellini. Siffert graduated to Formula One as a privateer in 1962, with a four-cylinder Lotus-Climax. He later moved to Swiss team Scuderia Filipinetti, and in 1964 joined Rob Walker's private British Rob Walker Racing Team. Early successes included victories in the 1964 and 1965 Mediterranean Grands Prix non-Championship Formula One races, both times beating Jim Clark by a very narrow margin. He won two World Championship races, one for the Rob Walker Racing Team and one for BRM.
Siffert died at the 1971 World Championship Victory Race, a non-Championship Formula One race, having his car roll over after a crash caused by a mechanical failure and being caught under the burning vehicle. Siffert was married twice, wedded with his second wife Simone from the height of his career in the late 1960s to the time of his death. They had two children together, Véronique and Philippe.
Life and career Early life Siffert was born in 1936 in the town of Fribourg, Switzerland, 35 km (22 mi) from Bern to a poor family. Aged 12, Siffert and his father went to Bern to see the 1948 Swiss Grand Prix at the Bremgarten circuit, and it was at this event where Siffert wanted to be a racing driver.
Formula One
In 1968, Siffert drove into the F1 history books by winning the 1968 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch in Rob Walker Racing Team's Lotus 49B, beating Chris Amon's Ferrari into second place after a race-long battle. This is regarded as the last GP victory by a genuine privateer. In 1971 as a BRM team driver, he scored his second Formula One Championship race victory at the Austrian Grand Prix held at the Österreichring.
Sports cars While Siffert's status in F1 grew slowly, his fame came as a leading driver for the factory Porsche effort in its quest for the World Sportscar Championship. In 1968, Siffert and Hans Herrmann won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in a Porsche 907, marking the first major outright wins for the company, apart from a few earlier victories on twisty tracks.
Later on, Siffert's driving displays in the Porsche 917 earned him several major wins in Europe. In addition, he was chosen by Porsche to help launch its CanAm development programme, driving a Porsche 917PA spyder in 1969 and finishing fourth in the championship despite few entries.
In 1970, Siffert teamed up with Brian Redman to drive a Porsche 908/3 to victory at the Targa Florio. That same year, Porsche bankrolled Siffert's seat in a works March Engineering F1 since the German company did not wish to lose one of their prize drivers to rival Ferrari. His association with March in F1 was disastrous, so he was pleased to join rival Porsche racer Pedro Rodriguez at BRM the following season.
Death Siffert was killed in the non-championship World Championship Victory Race at Brands Hatch, Kent, England, the scene of his first victory in 1968. The suspension of his BRM had been damaged in a lap one incident with Ronnie Peterson, and broke later. This was not admitted by BRM until much later when it was accidentally divulged by a BRM ex-mechanic. The BRM crashed and immediately caught fire. Siffert could not free himself from the burning car.
In the subsequent Royal Automobile Club (the UK organising and regulatory representative of the FIA at the time) investigation, it was discovered that Siffert had only suffered a leg fracture in the initial crash but because three fire extinguishers failed to work properly no rescuers could reach Siffert for five minutes and he died of smoke inhalation. A fire marshall stated that if the fire extinguishers worked correctly then they could have reached Siffert within 20 seconds.
This accident led to a rapid overhaul of safety, both in-car and on circuit. On-board fire extinguishers (using BCF—bromochlorodifluoromethane, an aircraft product) became mandatory and also piped air for the drivers, direct into their helmets.
Siffert's funeral in Switzerland was attended by 50,000 people and a Gulf-Porsche 917 of Team John Wyer led the hearse and procession through the streets of Fribourg.
Legacy In the final round of the 2007–08 A1GP season, at Brands Hatch, the A1 Team Switzerland car carried the message Jo 'Seppi' Siffert - 40th Anniversary - Brands Hatch. This commemorated his 1968 British Grand Prix victory at Brands Hatch.
Racing record
Career summary SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition1962Formula OneEcurie Filipinetti300000NC1963Formula OneSiffert Racing Team90000114th1964Formula OneSiffert Racing Team80000710thR.R.C. Walker Racing Team20001Trophées de FranceSiffert Racing Team100000NC1965Formula OneR.R.C. Walker Racing Team100000512th24 Hours of Le MansJ.H. Simone10000N/ADNF1966Formula OneR.R.C. Walker Racing Team80000314thBritish Formula TwoJoakim Bonnier100000NC24 Hours of Le MansPorsche System Engineering110?1N/A1st1967Formula OneRob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team100000612thEuropean Formula TwoBMW AG München300000NC24 Hours of Le MansPorsche System Engineering110?1N/A1st1968Formula OneRob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team121131127thEuropean Formula TwoBayerische Motoren Werke200000NC24 Hours of Le MansPorsche System Engineering10000N/ADNF24 Hours of Daytona11??1N/A1st1969Formula OneRob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team110002159thCan-AmPorsche-Audi80001564thEuropean Formula TwoBayerische Motoren Werke301010NC24 Hours of Le MansHart Ski Racing10000N/ANC24 Hours of DaytonaPorsche System Engineering10000N/ANC1970Formula OneMarch Engineering1200000NCEuropean Formula TwoBayerische Motoren Werke400010NCCan-AmJ.W. Automotive100011517th24 Hours of Le Mans10000N/ADNF1971Formula OneYardley Team BRM111112195thCan-AmSTP-Jo Siffert60003684thEuropean Formula TwoJo Siffert - Chevron Racing Team200000NC24 Hours of Le MansJ.W. Automotive10000N/ADNF Graded drivers not eligible for European Formula Two Championship points
Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pts 1962 Ecurie Nationale Suisse Lotus 21 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 NED MON NC 0 Ecurie Filipinetti BEL GER Lotus 24 BRM P56 1.5 V8 FRA GBR ITA USA RSA 1963 Siffert Racing Team Lotus 24 BRM P56 1.5 V8 MON BEL NED FRA GBR GER ITA USA MEX RSA 14th 1 1964 Siffert Racing Team Lotus 24 BRM P56 1.5 V8 MON 10th 7 Brabham BT11 NED BEL FRA GBR GER AUT ITA R.R.C. Walker Racing Team USA MEX 1965 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Brabham BT11 BRM P56 1.5 V8 RSA MON BEL FRA GBR NED GER ITA USA MEX 12th 5 1966 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Brabham BT11 BRM P60 2.0 V8 MON 14th 3 Cooper T81 Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12 BEL FRA GBR NED GER ITA USA MEX 1967 Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Cooper T81 Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12 RSA MON NED BEL FRA GBR GER CAN ITA USA MEX 12th 6 1968 Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Cooper T81 Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12 RSA 7th 12 Lotus 49 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ESP MON BEL NED FRA Lotus 49B GBR GER ITA CAN USA MEX 1969 Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Lotus 49B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA ESP MON NED FRA GBR GER ITA CAN USA MEX 9th 15 1970 March Engineering March 701 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA ESP MON BEL NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA MEX NC 0 1971 Yardley Team BRM BRM P153 BRM P142 3.0 V12 RSA 5th 19 BRM P160 ESP MON NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA Notes – Formula Two cars occupied fifth to tenth positions in the 1969 German Grand Prix, however drivers of these cars were not eligible for championship points. The points for fifth and sixth were awarded to the drivers of the eleventh and twelfth placed cars.
Complete Formula One Non-Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 1962 Ecurie Nationale Suisse Lotus 22 Ford 105E 1.5 L4 CAP BRX LOM LAV GLV Lotus 21 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 PAU AIN INT NAP MAL CLP Scuderia Filipinetti RMS MED DAN OUL MEX RAN NAT Lotus 24 BRM P56 1.5 V8 SOL KAN 1963 Ecurie Filipinetti Lotus 24 BRM P56 1.5 V8 LOM GLV PAU IMO SYR AIN INT Siffert Racing Team ROM SOL KAN MED AUT OUL RAN 1964 Siffert Racing Team Lotus 24 BRM P56 1.5 V8 DMT NWT SYR AIN INT Brabham BT11 SOL MED RAN 1965 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Brabham BT11 BRM P56 1.5 V8 ROC SYR SMT INT MED RAN 1966 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Brabham BT11 BRM P56 1.5 V8 RSA Cooper T81 Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12 SYR Cooper T80 INT OUL 1967 Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Cooper T81 Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12 ROC SPC INT SYR OUL BMW Lola T100 BMW M12 2.0 L4 ESP 1968 Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Lotus 49 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC INT OUL 1969 Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Lotus 49B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC INT MAD OUL 1971 Jo Siffert Automobiles March 701 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG ROC Yardley Team BRM BRM P160 BRM P142 3.0 V12 QUE INT RIN OUL VIC BRM P153 SPR
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1965 J.H. Simone Jochen Neerpasch Maserati Tipo 65 P +5.0 3 DNF DNF 1966 Porsche System Engineering Colin Davis Porsche 906/6L Carrera 6 P 2.0 339 4th 1st 1967 Porsche System Engineering Hans Herrmann Porsche 907/6L P 2.0 358 5th 1st 1968 Porsche System Engineering Hans Herrmann Porsche 908 P 3.0 59 DNF DNF 1969 Hart Ski Racing Brian Redman Porsche 908/2L P 3.0 60 DNF DNF 1970 John Wyer Automotive Engineering Ltd. Brian Redman Porsche 917K S 5.0 156 DNF DNF 1971 John Wyer Automotive Engineering Ltd. Derek Bell Porsche 917LH S 5.0 DNF DNF
Complete European Formula Two Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pts BMW Lola T100 BMW M11 SNE SIL NÜR HOC TUL JAR ZAN PER BRH VAL NC 0 BMW Lola T102 BMW M11 HOC THR JAR PAL TUL ZAN PER HOC VAL NC 0 BMW Lola T102 BMW M11 THR HOC NÜR JAR TUL NC 0 BMW 269 PER VAL BMW BMW 270 BMW M11 THR HOC BAR ROU PER TUL IMO HOC NC 0 Jo Siffert - Chevron Racing Team Chevron B18 Cosworth FVA HOC THR NÜR JAR PAL ROU MAN TUL ALB VAL VAL NC 0 Graded drivers not eligible for European Formula Two Championship points
Complete World Sportscar Championship results Dagger = Won class